The CDC recently released new data on state-level prevalence of physical inactivity. At least 25% of Georgians are physically inactive. This means they reported no physical activities like running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise in the past month. Physical inactivity is associated with higher risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and many other chronic conditions. Check out the Active People, Healthy Nation initiative from CDC or the International Society for Physical Activity’s 8 Investments That Work for Physical Activity to learn how to engage your community in physical activity.

The mission of the PACE Lab is to reframe existing spaces for physical activity. Part of this work includes evaluating social and physical environments. Dr. Jennifer Gay is Co-Investigator on a new interdisciplinary team, the UGA Space and Planetary Science and Engineering Program. One of the goals of this program is to investigate space environmental effects on human health, medicine, and in-situ monitoring. Updates for this project will be posted online. Be sure to check it out!

A new research article by Dr. Jennifer Gay and her colleague, Dr. David Buchner from the University of Illinois, has been published. “Twelve-Month Stability of Accelerometer-Measured Occupational and Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Compensation Effects” is now available online ahead of publication and will appear in a forthcoming issue of the Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour. Dr. Gay found that physical activity, measured by an accelerometer, was stable over 6 and 12 months, with greater stability seen in field versus office-based jobs. This is the fourth article published out of Dr. Gay’s American Heart Association funded study on occupational physical activity and health.

Occupational Physical Activity Opposes Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Modern Replication of the Morris 1953 London Busmen Study

An examination of compensation effects in accelerometer-measured occupational and non-occupational physical activity

Associations Between Office Location and Adiposity in Office Workers

PACE Lab doctoral student was recognized at UGA’s December commencement ceremony. Congratulations once more Dr. Dumas on earning your Ph.D.!

Walking Engagement in Mexican Americans Who Participated in a Community-Wide Step Challenge in El Paso, TX was a collaborative effort on which Dr. Jennifer Gay, Director of the PACE Lab, was a co-author. The paper, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, describes the results of a workplace-based walking challenge. Very few worksite wellness programs are designed for Hispanic communities. This research builds on the long-standing partnership between Dr. Gay and Dr. Jennifer Salinas at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

The United Nations recognizes November 10 as a day for World Science for Peace and Development. This is the 19th year the UN has held World Science Day. PACE Lab embraces the idea that research should include and be relevant to our communities. Our work on the Blue Gym of Georgia aligns with the UN’s call to “Build Climate Ready Communities”. Click here to learn more about World Science Day!

A welcome back to Meredith, and a warm welcome to Rithika, Jasmine, Katie, and Madison as we start the fall 2021 academic year! They will be working on a variety of projects including a literature review, health impact assessment, and online data collection. Check out their profiles on the PACE Team page!

UGA recently published a story, “Physical activity may curb health care worker burnout”, that has been picked up by a number of media outlets. This work is based on a recent publication of Dr. Wolff’s dissertation research highlighting the positive mental health effects of physical activity on work stress and burnout. You can check out the UGA story here.

The PACE Lab joins UN World Oceans Day in celebrating the oceans and all the life and livelihood they support. For more information on World Oceans Day, visit https://unworldoceansday.org/.